Richmond Journals

Richmond, Kentucky-Home in the Bluegrass

A December 2007 trip to Richmond by bledpub

Woodys Photo - Woodys Restaurant & Bar, Richmond, Kentucky

Quote: Richmond-home sweet home. I've lived in Richmond on and off for twenty-three years and am STILL finding things to do here.

42 Photos

Richmond, Kentucky-Home in the Bluegrass

Overview

Madison County Court House Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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We were kind of nomadic back when I was younger and until we moved to Richmond and settled into the family life, the longest I had ever lived anywhere was about two years. It's changed a lot since I moved here nearly twenty years ago. Back then it was kind of a small town. Everyone knew everyone, we had no shopping to speak of, and Lexington seemed to be about a million miles away. Now, everyone knows everyone, we have no shopping to speak of...Just kidding. It HAS grown up a lot. I used to be able to name all the subdivisions and if you told me the name of a street I could tell you where it was. Now, it seems like we have a new subdivision go up everyday and I lost track of them five years ago. The ...Read More

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Bennett House Bed & Breakfast

Hotel | "Bennett House"

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This place is so beautiful. It's a Victorian mansion where the guest is always treated very well. The hosts, Richard and Rita, are wonderful people and go out of their way to make you feel at home. The house was orginally built by the Bennett family (William) whose wife was Sarah Clay, daughter to Cassius Clay, a well known emancipationist. Construction began around 1889. Sarah often traveled to Europe with her father (who was also minister to Russia) and used her European influences to stylize the home.Unique Qualities: The breakfast they serve is fantastic. Very gourmet. The rooms are decorated impeccably. Another neat thing about the house is that the first Saturday of every month they ho...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 4, 2007

Bennett House Bed & Breakfast
419 West Main Street
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(877) 204-3426

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Woody's Restaurant & Bar

Restaurant | "Woody's"

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Woody's is a nice little place located right on Main Street. It's small and intimate and fairly romantic. Depending on what time of the week you go, they sometimes have live music. It can be anything from bluegrass to classical. It's a good place to go when you have a special occasion, and also has a nice bar where you can order a variety of cosmopolitan drinks. Unique variety menu with daily lunch and dinner specials. Accepts most major credit cards.I always like to try their daily specials. They usually have great pasta dishes. And, of course, their desserts are always good! You don't need reservations, although it can get a little crowded on Thursday nights, and if there's something speci...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Woody's Restaurant & Bar
246 West Main St.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 623-5130

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Casa Cafe

Restaurant

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I am a much bigger fan of Casa Cafe than I am of its twin, Casa Fiesta. It's a festive atmosphere on a smaller scale and on some nights they have live mariachi bands.The food is terrific and it is by far the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. It is owned, operated, and worked by Hispanic people which is kind of rare in this area-to find that the ethnic restaurants are owned by people of that nationality. The staff are friendly and courteous and the food always arrives in a timely manner.Price-wise, this is your best deal in Richmond. You can get a HUGE plate of food for under $10. I really like their tostadas and enchiladas. They also do a mean fried ice cream and soapapillas, which also c...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Casa Cafe
200 Wayne Dr.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 623-8582

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Arlington Country Club

Restaurant

Strawberry Romanoff Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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Of course, you have to be a member in order to eat here, unless you have a friend who belongs. It's definitely the swankiest place place in town and belongs the to university. I prefer eating in the main dining room because it's more formal, but some people like the ratskeller for the exact opposite reason. At Christmas it's a great place to be because they go all out with the decorations.My faves...For dinner I like the pasta dishes, mostly with marinara sauce. I also like their salmon and shrimp. They have wonderful desserts, too. The one I'm stuck on right now is a strawberry dish made of fresh strawberries, brandied cream, and whipped topping. They also have a fried apple pie that's popu...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

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Elvira's Bella Italia

Restaurant

tricolore salad Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

Quote:

My friend Jose owns this restaurant that has only been open for a couple of weeks. He used to have another restaurant called Pranza Dimorare that served both Mexican and Italian, but they moved to another (better) location and now serve only Italian. The new place is better because since it is located on the Bypass it gets more traffic and is busier. It is also not on the dry part of town so he is able to serve wine and beer.Jose makes his own pasta so right away it's a little different from your average Olive Garden. He mostly only has spaghetti, unless you order the lasagne or ravioli. I reccommend the lasagne myself. The homemade marinara sauce is wonderful with just the slightest hint of...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

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Parke Pastries & Bistro

Restaurant | "Parke Pastries"

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NO longer Nicholas' Donuts, but now park of Parke Bistro. Nicholas’ Donuts has been around for a long time. When I was young I used to walk there from our apartment everyday in the summer and get two chocolate donuts with my best friend. Oh, to have that metabolism back again! I like to support downtown restaurants and although this one is open at odd hours (they mostly close before noon) it is THE best place to get donuts in town. They’re all homemade and they have several different types. They also make bread and cakes to order. Since becoming part of the new place you can now order breakfast and lunch there as well. They mostly have items like soup, sandwiches, and hot dogs, but they're expanding e...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Parke Pastries & Bistro
213 West Main Street
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 624-1733

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Hall's on the River

Restaurant | "Halls on the River"

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Although technically not in Richmond but in Winchester, this restaurant is right over the county line on the other side of the river. It’s been around for a long time. I used to think that I was a jinx to it because every time I ate there something bad would happen to it the next day-it got flooded, caught on fire…Anyway, it has a nice location on the Kentucky River (hence the name) and you can get good views of it from the terrace and certain windows.Halls is famous for their beer cheese although I think Bananas on the River down the road has better. The shrimp has always been good and they have great baked potatoes. (I judge restaurants on the quality and size of baked potatoes. Is that we...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Hall's on the River
1225 Athens-Boonesboro Road
Winchester 40391
(859) 527-6620

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Bananas On The River

Restaurant

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This is not to be confused with the other Bananas on the bypass in Richmond. This one is far more superior to that one and they have very little in common. Bananas on the River is quieter than Halls and doesn’t get the same recognition despite having good food, great views, attentive staff, and a fun environment. Their bar is well stocked and they also have live music on occasion. There are many things on the menu that I like, including their beer cheese, shrimp, and cheeseburgers. (Although generally not all at the same time.) They have a good selection of seafood, home-style food, and steaks so there’s something for everybody. For dessert they have an array of pies and cakes.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Bananas On The River
700 Ford Rd.
Winchester 40391
(606) 527-3582

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Ryan's Grill Buffet & Bakery

Restaurant | "Ryan's"

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I’m not so sure that I can do an unbiased review of Ryan’s since I have a phobia of buffets. I’m sure there are other people out there like me. Or maybe not. But anyway, I am very very picky about cleanliness and even though I know logically that when I order something and the person at the next table orders the same thing it’s going to come out of the same dish, I just don’t want to actually see the dish. Then I have to worry about if people are washing their hands, does the sneeze guard really work, etc.However, if I was going to eat at a buffet then Ryan’s is definitely the best. You can also order off the menu but I think they probably get it from the buffet so there’s no point. It’s all...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Ryan's Grill Buffet & Bakery
2019 Colby Taylor Road
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 625-1996

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Bob Evans

Restaurant

Quote:

Bob Evans or Cracker Barrell…choices, choices. I like Bob Evans’ biscuits, but I like Cracker Barrell’s potato casserole and fried apples. Well, we have both here in Richmond. Bother are also right off the interstate so they stay pretty crowded. Still, if you’re in the mood for breakfast at 6:00 pm or have a hankering for biscuits and gravy then this is the place to be. The service is average but the food quality is consistent. I like their chicken fruit salad that they have in the spring and summer. It comes with chicken salad, but also has huge pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, pineapples, and strawberries. Their apple bread is also very good. Once again, after Sunday church services this...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Bob Evans
2011 Colby Taylor Dr.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 624-8087

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Taylor's Pool Hall

Restaurant

Inspiration for a book-Taylor's Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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So everybody knows that Taylor’s has good burgers, fries, and other made to order fast food. BUT, a little known fact is that it inspired author Walter Tevis to write the book “The Hustler” which was later turned into a movie and starred Paul Newman. The author himself in buried in the Richmond Cemetery. Taylor’s is basically a little hole in the wall, but the burgers really are good. If you’re sensitive to smoke, however, it can get a little stuffy. When we go downtown to the bars we typically make a stop at Taylor’s before we do any drinking. The food can fill you up.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

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Tsing Tao Restaurant

Restaurant | "Tsing Tao"

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There are actually quite a few Chinese restaurants in the area. Tsing Tao is my favorite for a couple of reasons. For one, obviously, the food is really good. I mostly stick with the lemon chicken which is served with pineapples and vegetables. Other people that I have dined with have raved over the sesame chicken and the sweet and sour pork. It’s never greasy or tastes like it has been setting all day like some of the Chinese food you can get here in town. The prices are reasonable and the service friendly. I also like it because it’s small and intimate and sometimes I don’t like to be in really loud and noisy places. The other reason I like it is because it’s located downtown on Main Street and I am...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Tsing Tao Restaurant
300 W Main St.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 624-0133

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White Hall State Historic Site

Attraction

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You must visit White Hall State Historic Site. It was the 44 room mansion belonging to emancipationist Cassius Clay. The house is gorgeous itself, but Cassius's own personal history is unbelievable. In his prime, he was a dashing, romantic ambassador to Russia. He then married at 14 year old girl at the age of 80 and beat up three intruders at the age of 92. He kept a canon on his third floor balcony and shot at some government people when they came and tried to get him to pay his taxes, and he freed all of his slaves way before the Civil War. Fascinating man.I was a tour guide at the mansion for two years and loved working there. The question we always got asked the most was whether or not ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 4, 2007

White Hall State Historic Site
500 White Hall Shrine Road
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 623-9178

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Deer Run Stable

Attraction | "Deer Run Stables"

Quote:

At this place, you can bring a group, your family, or just yourself. They do special things for kids throughout the year and have a good reputation as a nice place to ride horses-which is what you should do while in the Bluegrass region! You can go out on a trail ride by yourself or in a small group and they will even arrange a hayride for you and a group if you wish. The owners are great and are used to dealing with riders of all ranges of experience so don't worry if you've never been on a horse before.

Phone: (859) 527-6339
Address: 2001 River Circle Dr.
Other Contact: workmanr@mis.net

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 4, 2007

Deer Run Stable
2001 River Circle Dr.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 227-7636

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Peddler's Mall

Attraction

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This is basically just a big indoor flea market, but as far as indoor flea markets go, this one is better than most. It's conveniently located behind Rally's and next to Goodwill and although the hours are strange (never seems to be open long enough) the inside is well kept and doesn't have an overly cluttered look to it. You can find everything from new furniture to swords and porcelain dolls. I bought a hoop skirt there from the 1800's for about $10. It was in perfect shape. I like going in and wandering around sometimes, even if I don't buy anything.Since the store is broken up into booths, the prices vary. They can range from the ridiculously cheap to the extravagant-especially if you're...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 7, 2007

Peddler's Mall
Outer Loop
Louisville, Kentucky 40243
(502) 253-1983

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Chestnut Tree Gallery

Attraction

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Well, I always like to see people that I went to school with doing something interesting. Jennifer (formerly Pence) Rollins and her husband Jonathan have relocated first from Berea and then from Geri Lane to their new digs on Main Street. The Chestnut Tree Gallery recently opened in the summer of 2007 in yet another hope of revitalizing downtown Richmond. Their stock is mostly based on commission by area artists, although both Jennifer and Johnny are artists themselves. Other items they sell include paintings, drawings, pottery, sculptures, and one of my favorite things-house replications. Yep, you can commission someone to build a replica of your house. Or maybe someone else’s house if you like it be...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 7, 2007

Chestnut Tree Gallery

Richmond, Kentucky

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Old Houses in Richmond

Story/Tip

Westover Terrace Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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There are some absolutely gorgeous old homes in Richmond. Some are abandoned and falling in and others have been restored. You can do a walking tour of downtown homes if you go to the Tourism Center and get a pamphlet. Others you can find simply by driving around. These are some of my favorites in the area.

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White Hall Ghost Walk

Story/Tip

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Really more of an event than a custom...Every year, White Hall State Historic Site hosts the popular annual event "A Haunting Evening with the Clay Family" in October. In 2004, dates were October 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31. It happens in the evenings and guides lead groups from room to room and introduce the spirits of the past, who come out of the dimness to tell the tender and incredible stories of the illustrious Clay family. Each tour is limited to 20 persons. First performance at 7pm, and there are twelve tours a night. Reservations only; $10 per person. Call 859-623-9178 from 9 am to 5:30 pmIt's a really great deal because it's one of the few times that you can visit the house...Read More

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Madison County Fair

Story/Tip

Another ride at the fair Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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God bless Eastern and Central Kentucky counties that haven’t lost their county fairs. With so many theme parks so close by now (Kentucky Kingdom, King’s Island, Dollywood…) and the huge state fair, it’s a wonder that they haven’t died out all together. Yet, every year like clockwork, we still have our county fair. Sure, the rides mostly consist of the til-ta-whirl, the scrambler, the big slide, and the ferris wheel but it’s more the tradition and the principle of the thing that makes us go. (And, for me, the Polish sausages.) 4-H still does their thing there and you can find homemade quilts and jams and dogs and horse and other competitions going on. We also have the Miss Madison County pageant (I was...Read More

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Siege at Ft. Boonesboro reenactment

Story/Tip

Ft. Boonesboro State Park Photo - Richmond, Kentucky

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September 24-25The reenactment of the siege at the Fort can be very entertaining. I worked it one year and living historians come from all over the United States to participate. They usually set up camp in the large grassy area by the river and you can walk amongst them and check out their wares. It’s a great way to get firsthand knowledge of that era. Some of the people actually live like that year round and area always in character. They don’t have anything to do with things that were invented after that time period. It’s a little bizarre but most of the people are really friendly and open. During the siege they use real guns, but no bullets, and it can get loud and intimidating for the li...Read More

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Downtown Richmond

Story/Tip

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With over 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and three National Register Historic Districts, downtown Richmond is considered one of the state's finest restored 19th century commercial districts. Visit retail and antique stores, restaurants and historic buildings in the downtown area. Walking tour available. Richmond is a National Main Street Community and a graduate of the Kentucky Main Street program.Some of the better restaurants include Woody's (fine dining), Madison Gardens (more of an Italian pub if that makes sense), the Buddha (bar & sandwiches), Taylor's Pool Hall (burgers and fries), Silver Diner (home cooked food and excellent burgers) and Parke Pastries Bist...Read More

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Christmas Lights in Richmond

Story/Tip

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Some might call it tacky, but I love Christmas lights. I like the tasteful houses with the icicle lights and the green wreathes hanging daintily on the front doors, but what I LOVE are the houses that go all out. You know, the ones that have the blow-up snowmen, the nativity, a couple of reindeer, a mechanical Santa, and a forest of fake trees in the yard. The more lights the better. I like to think that after putting all of that out, some guy steps back to look at it with his wife and one of them turns to the other and says, "Honey, that looks GOOD." So every year we go out looking at lights and try to find that one perfect neighborhood that has that one perfect house that goes all out. We ...Read More